Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

If Britain votes to leave the European Union in Thursday's referendum, it may be more difficult to film HBO's smash hit series.

That's because Northern Ireland provides the backdrop for many of the show's most dramatic scenes, including the Battle of the Bastards from last week's episode, and the EU helps subsidise the cost of production.

According to Foreign Policy, the European Regional Development Fund contributes to the cost of filming the big budget series on location in Europe.

Those locations include Spain, Croatia and Malta in addition to Northern Ireland, where scenes from Winterfell and other parts of the North are shot.

In the event of Brexit, the fund, which is designed to boost the European economy, would be unlikely to continue to foot a portion of the bill for filming there.

Credit:
HBO

It is not just Game of Thrones that could see its funding impacted. According to the Foreign Policy report, British films and television shows have received $32 million over the last seven years from organisations like Creative Europe, which provides grants for cultural projects.

They included Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Helena Bonham Carter.

"Leaving Europe would be a leap into the unknown for millions of people across the U.K. who work in the creative industries, and for the millions more at home and abroad who benefit from the growth and vibrancy of Britain's cultural sector," the letter reads.